Plea expected in fake Nike case

A Souderton store owner accused of selling counterfeit Nike sneakers and compact discs will likely avoid trial by entering a plea in his case, attorneys said Tuesday.

Justin C. Coale, 28, who operates the Street Wear store at 145 Main St., waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges of trademark counterfeiting, deceptive or fraudulent business practices, forgery and related offenses.

"I anticipate it will be a non-trial disposition" in Montgomery County Court, said Bob Sander, the assistant district attorney prosecuting the case.

"I suspect it's likely to be resolved" without going to trial, said defense attorney Marc Steinberg of Lansdale. "It's not a whodunit. It's what I consider to be a damage-control case."

Coale was charged in March with selling counterfeit sneakers and compact discs after Souderton police seized more than $10,000 worth of fake merchandise from Coale's shop, police said.

Police say Coale was buying Nike Air Force 1 and Air Jordan sneakers for $25 to $30 in New York City and selling them for twice that amount or more.

Days after his arrest, Coale said that he runs a "legit" business that remains open.

Sander said the business itself is not illegal.

Police began investigating after Nike hired Stumar Investigations of Norristown, a private investigation firm, to look into whether Coale's footwear was authentic.

The arrest was part of Nike's ongoing nationwide crackdown on counterfeiters, Sander said.